Kytäjä Golf

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Architect

Thomas McBroom

The most striking thing about Kytaja is its isolation. The high-latitude, rough terrain resembles that of Canada, which may be part of the reason celebrated designer Tom McBroom was brought in from that country to lay out the two courses here, of which the North West is perhaps the better. The landscape is dominated by the lake from which the complex takes its name, although in fact it does not much come into play. The holes going out differ significantly from those coming home: the front nine are set on wide open ground, whereas the back nine are set on rolling, wooded ground. The greens are quite nicely done, though they would play better if more pin positions were available. The quality of the maintenance is another problem with the greens here, though allowances need to be made for the fact that the facility is forced to close in the winter.
The scope of the complex here is impressive given the relatively low profile of golf in Finland. Located about thirty miles from Helsinki, Kyataja has opened two full courses and is planning its third. Of the two now in operation, the South East opened first, in 2002, and it is not clear which is the superior. Both were designed by Canadian Thomas Broom, whose home country is in some ways reminiscent of Finland. Because of its northern setting, the course is naturally unplayable in the depths of winter. As does its sister course, the South East offers different experiences on the way out and the way back; here the front nine plays out over rolling, forested terrain, while the back nine approaches the shore of Lake Kytaja. The course is plenty long at well over 6300 meters off the tips, and precision is needed to avoid the water and the trees.